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Where there’s a will, there’s a way to give back

Have you considered leaving a gift in your will to your local community foundation?

Planning for the future is one of the greatest gifts you can give your loved ones. By partnering with Gathered Here, we can offer you a FREE online will, you can easily create a will from the comfort of your home.

Your legacy can continue to support the causes you care about and make a lasting impact on our community. Our network of 18 community foundations cover Aotearoa, find your nearest one today.

Find your local community foundation here

Introducing a unique way to give:

Ready to start your free online will?

It's not just about what you leave behind; it's about the change you create for a better tomorrow. Before you start - have you found your local community foundation?

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Is an online will for you?

Before you begin your

Gathered Here is a super easy option for those who have a simple estate structure. However, creating an online will is not for everyone. If you have a more complex estate, we recommend seeing your solicitor.

Every year, thousands of Kiwis choose to include a gift to charity in their will.

We sometimes call this ‘legacy giving’ because these people are creating a long-lasting impact that can be felt for years after they’ve gone. By including a gift to your local community foundation in your will, you are joining a community of supporters who are dedicated to making a positive change. Your legacy can inspire others and create a ripple effect of generosity. And, this type of giving is becoming more popular. Since 2021, online will provider Gathered Here has seen over 30,000 wills written via its platform and an estimated $350 million pledged to worthy causes all across New Zealand and Australia.

Find my local foundation

Ways to give:

We have different ways you can give and donations of any size are welcome.

Give while you live

Make a one-off donation or regular contributions to an existing fund that’s been set up to achieve great results, long term. One-off donations of significant value can also become your own Named Endowment Fund. All donations made during your lifetime qualify for a tax rebate of 33.3% up to the limit of your taxable income.

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Leave a gift in your will

When making a will many people want to give something back to their community by leaving a gift to a specific area of interest, or leave it up to the Community Foundation to guide giving into the future. You may consider leaving a percentage of your estate or a specified sum in your will, the choice is up to you.

Give as a group

Workplace giving is a way for people to give back to their community by way of small, regular donations. We can help companies set up regular giving via their payroll system – and many employers like to come on board too! Giving Circles are a gathering of like-minded people pooling their money and collectively contributing to a cause of their choice. It’s easy and a fulfilling way to affect lasting community change. We can help your group start..

"Many Kiwis do like to give in a more thoughtful way, and see Community Foundations as providing the long-term structure to be able to do this. Basically, the Foundations support the tūrangawaewae of each of us – the place we stand and feel at home"

Dame Fran Wilde DNZM QSO, Chair of Nikau Foundation, the Wellington region's Community Foundation

Fund types:

Whether you give now or later, there are options for how you’d like your giving to impact your community.

Give to an existing fund

Your local Community Foundation may already have a fund set up that’s working on an area of interest to you. Or you can contribute to the collective pool of the general community fund and leave it to us to channel the income where it’s needed most. Each regional Community Foundation is different because each community’s needs are too.

Learn More

Set up a new fund

Gifts of significant size (it varies between regions, but typically $50k+) can be eligible to become your own Named Endowment Fund. You can choose the name and which charities or causes will benefit from your fund’s income. And you or your descendants can receive annual reports on earnings and distributions from your fund, so you can see the impact you are having in your beloved community over time. See how your own fund would work below.

Charitable Trusts

If you have an existing Charitable Trust (or are considering establishing one) your local Community Foundation can offer easier options for management around compliance, investments, effective grant making and more. They can provide the means to run a Charitable Trust, without the significant workload, while your Trust's original purpose continues on. To date, we have resettled over $50m in Trust funds across New Zealand, with discussions ongoing in communities around future resettlements. See our blog post on this subject and contact us to find out more.